Fresno's China Express was the recipient of a Resilience grant from the California Restaurant Foundation. Google Street View photo
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The holidays came early for a couple dozen Central Valley eateries selected among 114 recipients of $3,000 individual grants from the California Restaurant Foundation.
It is the second year the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund has supported restaurants across the state with assistance from partners SoCalGas, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Wells Fargo.
The money can be used to upgrade equipment and pay employee retention bonuses, according to a news release. In addition to the cash, winners also receive a year’s worth of business support services.
There were a total of 318 California restaurants receiving grants in 2021, with an additional 356 receiving grants in the spring — along with more than a dozen local eateries.
A total of 114 Golden State restaurants received $3,000 grants in the fall, including these Central Valley establishments:
559 Beer – Brewery, Food & Wine, Clovis
Amazing Kitchen, Fresno
Bella Pasta Inc., Fresno
China Express, Fresno
Honolulu BBQ, Fresno
Hon’s Chinese Restaurant, Fresno
I Love Pho and Menudo, Fresno
Jim’s Chinese Restaurant, Fresno
Kabob Land, Fresno
Koko’s Deli (formerly Deli Delicious), Fresno
Lotus Kitchen, Fresno
Mariscos El Tarasco, Reedley
Ohana Pantry, Fresno
Ramen vs Pho, Fresno
Rocket Dog Gourmet Brats and Brew, Fresno
Rosa Linda’s Fine Mexican Restaurant, Clovis
Saigon Shophouse Fresno, Fresno
Starving Artists Bistro, Fresno
Sunnyside Delicatessen, Fresno
Susan Deli, Fresno
Tacos Tijuana, Fresno
Tacos y Mariscos Tijuana, Fresno
Tastefully Twisted, Clovis
Tower Tea, Fresno
Angkor Restaurant, Fresno
Bravo Farms, Tulare
The Pickled Deli, Visalia
Of the 2022 grantees, 72% are women and 83% are people of color.
“Many of these restaurants represent family legacies and life-long dreams,” according to a release announcing the grants. “The average time in business is 9.7 years, with nearly 80 restaurants operating for more than two decades.”